Vase attached lamp



Jan. 8, 1957. Y H. E. coMBs 2 9 VASE ATTACHED LAMP Filed Nov. 14,1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig] Henley E. Combs INVEN TOR.

Jan. 8, 1957. H. E. coMBs 2,777,052

VASE ATTACHED LAMP Filed Nov. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Henley E. Combs INVEN TOR.

WWW 3M Jan. 8, 1957.

Filed Nov. 14, 1955 H. E. coMBs VASE ATTACHED LAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.9

Henley E. Combs INVENTOR.

BY Mfiamy 3m United States This invention relates to the class of illuminating devices and more particularly to an electrical assembly for illuminating under water by a fluorescent lamp encased in a transparent casing especially adapted for use in bowls of ornamental configuration or for aquariums.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of an electrical assembly for use on, in and above aquariums, tanks, and bowls of suitable material whereby the electrical components of the invention are safeguarded, yet which enables a ready replacement of a burned out lamp when necessary.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for illuminating aquariums and the like which is highly attractive in appearance, and which is capable of providing over water illumination not only for the aquarium but for other portions of the room or compartment in which the lamp is located.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of lamps which employ clamp means for attachment thereof to a bowl so as to provide illumination in the bowl and thereabove as may be desired, and which is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, and capable of being readily produced at a relatively low cost thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by these lamps, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a lamp constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional detail View in an enlarged scale as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2 illustrating the clips utilized in securing the transparent casing to the flanged collar;

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the clamp means used in holding the strap on the receptacle;

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the means for exciting the underwater fluorescent lamp;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention employing only an underwater lamp;

Figure 7 is a partial detail View illustrating a modified form of the invention employing an incandescent lamp;

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of another modification of the invention employing an underwater lamp adapted to be suspended directly on the side of a receptacle;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 99 in Figure 8 Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention for direct attachment to the wall of the receptacle; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment simiatom 1 'ice lar to that of Figure 10 but employing an incandescent lamp.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views and with initial reference to the embodiment of the invention as is shown in Figures 1 through 4, reference numeral 10 generally designates the illuminating apparatus comprising an embodiment of the present invention which includes a receptacle 12 such a bowl or the like which may be provided with a lip 14 and which may be of an ornamental configuration or adapted to contain fish or otherwise serve as an aquarium.

Positioned on the receptacle 12 is a strap 16 having a hook-like end surface 18 adapted to engage the lip 14. A suitable anchor plate 20 is preferably integrally formed with the strap and clamp means including threaded fasteners 22 and 24 are threadedly engaged inthe end plate 20 and engage the neck portion 24 of the receptacle 12.

Secured by means of a stud 26 to the strap 16 and held in place by suitable nuts as at 28 and 30 is a connection box 32 having a top portion 34 from which rise annularly disposed stays as at 36. In addition to the stays 36 a stand 33'rises upwardly from the. connection box 32 and is of hollow construction. The upper end as at 4% of the stand 38 is threaded for reception of a threaded washer 42 carrying spars 44 and 46 to which the stays 36 are attached. Another nut 48 holds the switch box 50 in position on the stand 38 and a pair of switches 52 and 54 are mounted in the switch boxes and have operating buttons or knobs 56 and 58 respectively. The ballast 60 is also mounted in the switch box. By means of a threaded hollow stud 62 a lamp bracket 64 for a neon lamp 66 or other fluorescent type lamp is secured to the connection box 50. Obviously the conductors as are indicated at 70v extend through the stud 62, through the switch box 56 and through the stand 38 and out of the connection box 32 through conduits as at 72 and 74 for connection to the lamp to be further described and to the plug 76 which is adapted to be connected into a conventional outlet box so as to supply the necessary electrical power for operation of the invention 10.

A suitable lamp shade supporting bracket 78 is also carried by the stud 62 and a lamp shade 80 is held in place by a suitable ornamental top member 82.

Positioned in an aperture 84 in the strap 16 is a threaded stud 86 of hollow configuration through which the conductors extends. These conductors also pass through the threaded stud 86 and are connected to the terminals of a fluorescent lamp socket 88 carried there- In addition to the knurled nut 90 there is provided a flanged collar 92 for holding the stud 86 in position and the flanged collar is provided with a gasket 94 which cooperates with the flange 96 of a transparent casing 98 to provide a seal when the clips 100 are engaged with the flanged collar 92, the clips being secured to the casing 98 by any desired means.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the switch as at 58 which controls operation of the fluorescent bulb 104 is of the rotary type and is provided for interconnecting the ballast in series with the source of electrical energy.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, in lieu of the ballast 60 being secured within the switchbox 5t), the ballast as at 100 may be affixed by any means such as welding or by a fastener to the anchor plate 26. In this form of the invention no aerial or above water lamp is utilized.

As is shown in Figure 7, in lieu of the incadescent lamp 66 and the socket 64 therefor, a lamp socket 112 may be mounted on the switch box 50 for reception of an incandescent lamp 114. A lamp shade supporting bracket 3 116 may be provided for holding a lamp shade in position.

A modified form of the invention as is shown in Figure 8 may employ a strap 118 having a substantially inverted U-shaped end portion 120 which cooperates with a threaded fastener 122 which can best be seen in'Figure 9 for securing the underwater lamp in position on the end of a receptacle 126 such as a flat sided tank. In this form of the invention, the switch box 128 is held in place by means of a hollow stud 130 directly on the strap 118 and depending from the strap 113 and secured theretoin the same manner as the lamp 104 and the casing 98 is a lamp 131 and casing 132. A rotary switch 134 may be mounted in the switch box 128 and has a rotary handle 136. The ballast 138 may be arranged in series with the lamp 130 in the conductor cord 140 having a plug 142 for insertion in an outlet supply box as is conventional.

As is shown in Figure 10, the embodiment as is shown in Figures 8 and 9 may be provided with the mast 38, and the stays. as well as the switch box 50 and the incandescent lamp 66 of the embodiment of the invention as is shown in Figure 2 while in Figure 11, the incandescent lamp construction including the lamp 114- seated in a socket 116 may be utilized. And in the case of the embodiment of Figure 7, a hand switch 117 may be provided for controlling the lamp 114 while the switch 58 is still utilized in the switch box 50;

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable. modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a receptacle for water, an aquarium illuminating apparatus comprising a mounting strap, clampmeans detachably securing said strap to said receptacle, a threaded stud depending from said strap, a flanged collar threadedly secured on said stud, a lamp socket secured to said stud, a fluorescent lamp in said socket, a transparent casing enveloping said lamp, clip means holding said casing to said collar, a connection box on said strap, a stand rising from said connection box above said receptacle, a switch box on said stand, a second lamp socket carried by said switch box, and a second lamp mounted in said second lamp socket.

2. In combination with a receptacle for water, an aquarium illuminating apparatus comprising a mounting strap, clamp means detachably securing said strap to said receptacle, a threaded stud depending from said strap, a flanged collar threadedly secured on said stud, a lamp socket secured to said stud, a fluorescent lamp in said socket, a transparent casing enveloping said lamp, clip means holding said casing to said collar, a connection box on said strap, a stand rising from said connection box above said receptacle, a switch box on said stand, a second lamp socket carried by said switch box, a second lamp mounted in said second lamp socket, said second lamp socket including a fluorescent lamp mounting bracket, and a lamp shade carried by said bracket.

3. In combination with a receptacle for water, an aquarium illuminating apparatus comprising a mounting strap, clamp means detachably securing said strap to said receptacle, a threaded stud depending from said strap, a flanged collar threadedly secured on said stud, a lamp socket secured to said stud, a fluorescent lamp in said socket, a transparent casing enveloping said lamp, clip means holding said casing to said collar, :1 connection box on said strap, a stand rising from said connection box above said receptacle, a switch box on said stand, a second lamp socket carried by said switch box, a second lamp mounted in said second lamp socket, a lamp shade mounting bracket carried by said second lamp socket, and a lamp shade carried by said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

